1. Introduction
2. Benefits of Writing in the First Person Point of View
   1. Deepening Reader Engagement
   2. Building Authentic Characters
   3. Enhancing Narrative Voice
3. Challenges and Considerations
   1. Limited Perspective
   2. Overuse and Self-Indulgence
   3. Avoiding Repetition and Monotony
4. Conclusion

Introduction

Most simply put, the first person POV is the “I” story. For example, “I woke up that morning and everything had changed.” The first person POV is defined as the narrator also being the character perspective that’s used to share the thoughts and feelings of a character within a story.

By using First-Person POV in your story, you’ve chosen to create an intimate relationship for the reader to bond with the narrator. It also will allow the reader to experience the emotions, thoughts, and feelings of the Narrator. You’ve also given yourself a significant challenge in connecting with the readers while trying to make it seem natural. But with the First-Person POV, you’ve also created a story that the reader can identify with and make their own. If this sounds like a challenge, you’re up to or want to learn more about, continue reading.

Benefits of Writing in the First Person Point of View

Deepening Reader Engagement

First Person POV deepens a reader’s engagement by the constant use of I, me, and my. While at first the reader may not latch onto this, the story becomes their own as they continue to read it. Why does this work? Because as the reader continues to learn about the character, they begin to understand and react as the character. The First Person POV allows the reader to talk about the story as if they are the ones who experienced it. This helps you with the biggest seller of books, word of mouth. If you can get this type of buy in from your readers, then they’ll recommend the books to family and friends.

The First-Person POV also creates a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance. Create this closeness by fully sharing the character’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Everything in the First Person POV is more raw as the readers experience the journey with the narrator. When well done, the reader will understand and agree with the character’s reactions to the story events.

Building Authentic Characters

I’m going to use an example I created from my Practice of Susbandry storyline throughout these POV posts. In this example, I’ll show how the First-Person Point of View can bring you closer to a character and understand how each emotion changes the experience.

I sat in the coffee shop worrying I looked strange sitting alone with two coffees on my table. The other customers didn’t seem to pay much attention to me. It was probably good that they couldn’t see the sweat under my coat. Mom wouldn’t be happy to know I was out to meet a girl. I tried to conceal my eagerness to meet Veronica in person once I saw her standing just outside. I didn’t blame her for scoping the place out. There were so many stories of girls being kidnapped from online dates gone wrong. Veronica was beautiful even under her beanie and scarf that covered part of her face. Should I get up? Wave? I didn’t know. I hadn’t been on a date since before the accident.

Now, I almost went story-mode with that, but it should be enough of a sample to get us started. If you look at the example, note how quickly the setting and tone were established. Although the reasons may not be initially clear, it creates tension for the reader by letting them see the story from Brady’s perspective. Could I have written this example better, sure, but I wanted to make sure I covered the levels of interiority you can explore in First-Person POV.

Remember the defining moments of character and how the “I” sees the world as your story progresses. Consistency is key in First-Person POV because it is a story that stays so close to the vest, so to say. This also impacts how the reader experiences the story.

Enhancing Narrative Voice

Each POV has a tool that can be a bit of a duel edged sword. The First-Person POV allows for the narrator to control the tone and emphasis of the story. Your readers will experience the story that the character shares with them.

By controlling the character’s observations, the first-person perspective shapes the tone, style, and atmosphere of the story. A character noticing the world in dark tones, thinking that everyone is against them, and danger is around every corner, will keep your reader on edge. You could write a more pleasant story where the character is optimistic and sees every challenge as a chance to grow. You can also look at my post World-Building: Creating Characters from Setting to learn more about this aspect.

The Martian by Andy Weir is an excellent example of the first-person point of view, specifically using a journal format. The story immerses readers into the mind of the protagonist, Mark Watney, allowing for a deeper connection to his experiences and emotions. Watney’s logical, problem-solving mindset is effectively portrayed through his journal entries, providing valuable insights into his struggles, triumphs, and moments of doubt while facing obstacles on Mars. Weir captures Watney’s voice authentically, creating an engaging and immersive reading experience. The use of First-Person Point of View and the journal format makes Watney’s journey on Mars exciting and captivating.

Challenges and Considerations

Limited Perspective

The closeness of this point of view makes it difficult to show events that the protagonist doesn’t know about or hasn’t directly experienced. You may not choose this point of view if you’re trying to write a story that includes multiple POVs. While it can still be done, the constant use of “I” can confuse readers of the “I”s doesn’t sound different. It also doesn’t show what greater ramifications of their actions.

One effective way to handle situations where different perspectives are missed is to employ various narrative devices. For instance, dialogue can be a powerful tool for exploring contrasting viewpoints. Through thoughtful and compelling conversations between characters, readers can gain insight into different beliefs, experiences, and emotions. This helps depict the story in a more detailed and varied way and also encourages readers to think about different viewpoints.

Overuse and Self-Indulgence

Watch out for self-centeredness and narcissistic tendencies when writing in first-person. It’s hard to keep a reader interested in a character who reflects what we often see as negative traits. Many like to see themselves as a good person, and if you challenge them too much with an “I” they can’t agree with, then they’ll struggle with your story.

If you’ve found that your character falls into this category, consider these options. Change your POV. Switching the point of view can alter your character’s portrayal and behavior. Take your narcissistic character and place them into a Third-Person POV. What happens? Is your character actually a narcissistic and self-centered person no matter what? Then give the reader that one good thing about the character for them to hold on to. Many call this the “save the cat” moment. As long as you can give your reader a reason they can at least hope for the character’s change into a more likable person, you’ll keep them engaged.

Avoiding Repetition and Monotony

One of the common pitfalls of First-Person POV is the repetitive language and monotonous narration. Writers using the first-person perspective repeat “I” frequently, resulting in repetitive sentences and a lack of narrative variety. This can cause a monotonous reading experience for the audience.

To avoid this pitfall, writers should pay attention to sentence construction and strive for diversity in their language choices. Instead of starting every sentence with “I,” they can explore different ways to introduce the protagonist or narrator. By using descriptive language, incorporating dialogue, or focusing on actions and descriptions, writers can bring more richness and engagement to the story. This can also be a great tool to practice as you work in other POVs. A variety of beginnings is a simple way to keep your readers from skimming important parts of the story. It’s difficult to master, and I still struggle with it, but the more you practice it, the better your writing will become.

Conclusion

The First Person point of view allows writers to create an intimate bond between the reader and the story’s narrator. While challenging to write well, it offers the ability to build highly authentic characters and boost narrative voice. Writers should be aware of its limitations around perspective and avoid common pitfalls like repetition. Overall, the First Person point of view is a powerful tool to deeply immerse readers into a character’s inner world. When implemented skillfully, it can result in stories that feel raw, emotional, and compelling.

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